Electrical brake control mechanism



Feb. 24, 1942.

R. A. VISSINGv ELECTRICAL BRAKE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Feb. 9, 1940 6/ a? sa s" ms 66 429 b 50 6 415 4 o /b 14 f. 57 A 70 09 a 29 42 5o ILL/ 36 30 M -a?b 2 Sheets-Sheet l /Q KW Feb. 24, 1942. R. A. VISSING ELECTRICAL BRAKE CONTROL MECHANISM Fil ed Feb. 9, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,fleld of the electro-magnetic tnegfie dg s mcimcnsm comer. macnsnrsm 1 Tone-third to Utah,

Washington, D. I

v I measurement, 1940,

and one-third to new, assignor of Roe, *Salt Lake -:'C lty, Philip Siggerl,

e 2e (c 188-138) ,This invention relates to electr c-magnetically controlled operating mechanismswhich may be used to actuate a wide variety or other mechabrakenrum, and 01V nismasuchas brakes. gnmong-other objects, the

invention aims to provide animprov'ed operating f mechanismior brakes (whether hydranlic,.pneuan's or mecha ical which is eittremely sensicomps easily manufactured; and which is especlally. well adapted for-use in the automotive and aeronauticalflelds, without more than slight struc turalchanges in. the vehicles or, invention has other objects which will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment, shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

.In said drawings: l .V i 1 Fig. l is a sectional elevationoi a wheel and brake and the operating mechanism of the inv t onz- 4 v v I Fig. 2 is a detail, in elevation, and on the same scale, showing certain parts indifferent posi- AtiOnS; as when the brake is fully applied;

Fig. 3 is an elevation, partlyin section, of the portion of the operating mechanism, showing diagrammatically a source of electricityandyan adjustablerheostat for controllinglthe flow ofelectricitythrough Fig. 4 is an elevation of the brake ,drum and brake, with partsbroken away,zshowing also the lever for transmittingpressureirom the electromagnetic parts tozthe brake; I i

: Fig. 5 is enlarged detail'in section; and I Fig. 6 is still another detail, in sectionalelevation, on a larger scalethan Fig. 1 V

Referring particularlyto the drawings, a wheel I l isshown having ahubfl and flanged rim l3 for receiving a rubber tire not shown. The

wheel! lisoi the split type,-comprising two simi-- lar steel halves or-dlsks joined together by bolts two or more,

within the wheel rim; Thus the brake drumro- I tates with the wheel, andslows down,

to be described, is applied.

when the brake,

' is not enclosed the wheel airplanes. The I Bolts H, of which there may be there is relative angular.

- words, the instant the'armature 3 0. constitutes"a reciprocable head exerting a thrust parallel, I

anism interposed in its path, and thus may be used to actuate a brake orother mechanism. To retard the armature, I prefer to employ a bearings The s or one or more transmit the stresses. 35

. engagement spool 28 having said flange I 30' I The wheel is rotatably mounted on a'stationary axle I! which passes through the center of the I I the wheel. *Roller or other bearings 20 are; located between the hub 01 the wheel and the axle, and hub caps 2| .seal the ,I I owing of the roller bearings andfhub caps is somewhat, diagrammatic, as

elementsiorm no 'part of the present inventionr I f. 'Tsurroundins the axial! loosely is a hollow wormv or screw 22 (which may; have single 'or multiple threads), said worm or, screw being secured to andpreterably integral with a disk 23 which fits into an aperture '2 in one face of the brake] drum l6, Screws25 so that said worm or screw rotates with the wheel,

and at the same 1' speed. The helix angle of the thread or threads of "the worm or screw 22 is such as to assure rapid action on a member threaded onv or engagedwlth the threads of the worm or screw.

In the illustrative embodiment, an annular armature- 28 surrounds the worm or screw '22 and is moved thereby. because of the engagement I conical rollers 21onthe outer ends or pins28'(Fig's."1 and 5) secured to the armature onthe' inside and extending radially inwardly toward will be at least as many rollers 21 as there are threads: thus a triple thread will be engaged by at least three rollers, and a single thread may be engaged by as many rollers as are necessary to Boiler and thread ento thread 'andithread gagement" is preferable is so much less. The armature 26 is,

and has the usual conducting bars 264; (Fig. 3) of the rotor of a squirrel cagemotor. Secured to the armature on the inside is a non-magnetic an annularflange fl at one end,

having a close clearance around axle 19 and movable lengthwise of the-axle when the worm or screw 22.; I

is retarded, while will move outwardly, or from lto thatoi Fig. 2. The flange armature and rotating," spool 29 the positionofFig.

;to, the wheel axle on any mechthe axis oithe screw 22.v There (as in a nut) because thefriction preferably composed or laminations of soft iron (not shown), :so as to be very responsive to a magnetic field,

.the armaturejs retarded. vHead i9 topermit this. v intermediate its ends, saidpivot being on a ful- :crum member 45 secured to the housing member stationary field, surrounding the armature but normally not magnetized. The field may have .many different constructions, but in the illustrative embodiment I have shown a field comprisingsix poles 3| (Fig. 3), each of which consists of a pole piece 3|a are adapted to be energized from a source of electricity 32 such as a storage battery,'a rheostat 33 serving as a switch and control mechanism to vary the magnetic field and hencecontrol the retarding force on the armature. By employing a suitable rheostat, the degree of control may be very fine, and the retardation of the armature due to the magnetic field' may be varied from an amount barely sufiicient to cause the brake bands (to be described) totouch the brake drum, to an short of brake locking. The field, whichin general construction prei'erablyis a standard motor opposite sides of an annular plate or. disk 31 by 31 closes one side of the brake opening 40 through which'thehead 30 moves as 30; of course,

rotateswith the armature. g 7

-To translate outward movement of head 3i! into brakingfeifort, many difierent'mechanisms may be employed, as will be understood by those Skilled in the art of brakes. In the illustrative example, a generally Y-shaped lever 4| is employed, said levercarrying a pair of rollers 42 at its bifurcated end, the rollers being rotatable onball bearings 43. The two rollers are adapted to hear at diametrically opposite. points on the annular head, and lever, 4| straddles the axle The pivot44 of lever 4| is The position of pivot 44 is adjustable. At its resistance end, the lever 4| is pivotally connected as at 41 with a rod 48 which one end to receive a nut 49 havinga knurled head, as shown, to permit adlength of rod 48, thereby to compensate for wear of the brake shoes to be described; The head of the nut 49 is shown connected by a clevis 50 topivot 41, which is a clevis pin. A coil spring 5| may be carried on rod 48 to bear against the head of the nut 49 and the plate 31, therebyto tend to swing the lever 4| into engagement (through rollers 42) with the movable head 30. Inward adjustment of the nut 49 obviously will tighten the tension of sa'idcoil spring, thus causing the lever to bear more firmly against head 30.

Spring 5| tends to move head 30 and hence the armature 26 back to the positions shown. in Fig.- 1; thus the spring5| is'primarily' a resetting device, which will act automatically whenever the magnetic field is do-energized. It'will be appreciated that' if this automatic is employed with the described mechanism, it is absolutely necessary that the helix angle of worm 22 besuch that the backward thrust of lever I shall be efiective to move the armature back and a winding 3Ib, the pole pieces 3|a being magnetically connected. The windings are shown connectedin series and amount which will be just' resetting feature .as they are are connected with to the position of Fig. 1, immediately after each application of the brake.

Rod 48 is pivotally connected by a clevis pin 52 with a clevis 53 fast to the unthreaded central hub 53a of a screw 54 (Figs. 4 and 6) having right and left hand threads on either side of the hub and carrying nuts 55, 56. The arrangement is such that said nuts simultaneously move away from the'hub when the rod 48 is moved into the interior of the brake drum, that is, movement of lever 4| from the position of Fig. 1 to that of Fig. 2 will cause separation of nuts 55, 56. As shown in Fig. 6, the pivotal connection between clevis 53 and rod 48 is loose, to permit the screw 54 (to which the clevis is rigidly secured) to move in either direction along its axis, in the event the brakes are not perfectly equalized. In other words,'the screw 54 may move longitudinally in either direction responsive to the reactions of the brake shoes when the brake is applied. Such longitudinal movement is entirely independent of the turning of the screw-on its'axis, and is highly desirable because one brake shoe may be in a different position from the other at the moment the brake is applied. i Said nuts 55, 56 operate on the ends of brake shoes 51, 58 mounted on pivots 51a, 58a respectively within the brake drum' l6. Said brake shoes may have the usual short "slots 59 through which fixed pins 60 project to guide the shoes moved. Brake linings 6| of conventional construction are riveted on the outer surfacesof the brake shoes and are adapted to bear frictionally against the inside surface 62 of the brake drum. As the screw 54 is tumed in one direction, nuts 55, 56 are moved apart 'with equal pressure. Each nut 55, 56 has a head 55a, 56a which is pivoted by a pair of ,alined pins 55b, 56b to the flanges 51b, 58b of the brake shoes 51, 58 respectively. The

axle against rotation. The bearing block may have an intesu-al sleeve or hub 61 to facilitate comprising three arms the extremities of which plate 31 by screw bolts 68 having spacer sleeves 10. Thus the field 3|, its

ably being semi-circular, one of the "pivot 44 the position, thus'resettingthe mechanism. This rearserew-zr and lie in thesamep i and the I ends ll of magnet I2 are also-bent outwardly to provide pole-pieces pieces when the armature last one end ofsc'rew which engage the othe'r pole- 22. Thus the armature is held out of engagement withthe lever bearings (the position of As the wheel spins. 22 rotate slowdown the airplane. V brake drum l8 and the worm or screw with it,xand the armature :26 (with the nonmagnetic-spool 29) likewise rotates, remaining in the position of Fig. 1 until a magnetic field displaces thearmature by-retardation. .On the other, hand, platerfl, lever and the parts operated thereby, includingthe brake shoes, also the .wheel, as soon as its tire touches the ground, the wheel starts to spin on the axle, and controlled braking effort may then be applied to setting is of course essential for dependability:

the brake must always be-readyforinstant service. Thespring acts automatically and practically instantaneously toreset or restore the mechanism to the position" permitting braking and will so act even if the wheel never stops rotatin providedthe magnetic fleld is broken.

-='When an airplanes wheel's first touch the ground, said wheels are suddenly transformed :from a. state ofrest to a very high angular vein a serious accident. The invention provides a,

spider i8 and bearing block 65, and all parts securedv to these members, I be more accurate, these parts do not rotate). As soonjas the opera-torthrough rheostat switch 32 connects'the field 3| with the source ofelecrotating armature, which sets up counterlines of force, creating a magnetic drag or retardation which is very powerful, and is instantaneous in actions Thismagnetic drag-orretardation forces thearmature, and the non-magnetic spool 29, to

in Fig. 1, the extreme position of'said'le'ver being shown in Fig. 2. Due-to the position of the lever lever afiords additional mechanical advantage, which isfurther increased by, the

,clevis arm, 52 (which is a lever arm). Finally, the rlghtand'left threads on screw 54 aflord still further mechanical advantage. The net result of allthese linked mechanical advantages is enormously to multiply the energy available from retardation of the rotating armature and as this energy may be considerable in itself (a fraction of a horsepower up to several horsepower) there is an almost unlimited amount of energy available atthe point where it is needed. 'Andthis practically unlimited energy maybe controlled with the utmost sensitiveness and e v H accuracy by merely adjusting the rheostat. Bytheinvention, the rotating'wheeljwith the aid of mechanical advantages, supplies practically all of the energy nec'essarytobrake itself I "The described butward'movement P of head is opposed by .spring II, which is-compressed against plate 31 (Fig. '1). When the wheelv stops rotating, and themagnetic field is broken by the operator, there will be noforce opposing the compressed spring Bigwhich accordingly, through lever ll, will the head 30 back to its initial remain stationary (or to tricity 32-, magneticylines of force intersect the a locity: all but the slowest airplanes usually landing atoll-80 M. P. H. As 'a'heavy tire is carried 'on such wheels, a high momentum is generated, and the momentum of the 'planeitself'is added to that of the wheels to tend to continue rotation of the latter'for a considerable period. a It is important that braking of thewheels shall start as soon as the wheels are firmly on the ground, because even a few seconds delay makes an enormous difference at high speeds, but it is of special importancethat the braking shall not lock the wheels. because locked wheels may result braking system which will make locking, of the. wheels highly improbable because with les velocity of the wheel, a far greater magnetic drag must be imposed on the armature to cause such an increase in the braking thrust of the armature-spool-assemblyas would lock the-wheel. As the-wheelstopsr-if the fi'eld 3| is de-energized, there is no force available to oppose the back thrust of the resettlng'spring 5|, and the spring promptly restores the lever H to the position shown in Fig. 1, the armature-spoolassembly being rotated about the stationary worm 22. To set the brakes when the airplane is at a standstill and it is desired to hold it stillmomentarily, as when gunning-'the engines immediately prior to atakeoii, the operator will allow the plane to move a few feet whic'h,with energization of the field, will provide'the necessary energy for applying the brakes.

Ordinarily,. two wheels of an airplane are braked simultaneously, though in some instances three or more wheels must 'be braked. It is usually"essentiaLforsafe deceleration of the airplane, that the "braking force exerted on one wheeLshall exactly equal that exerted-on each of the otherrwheelsp The invention makes this possible; and in fact, certain. since any number otwheels (each equipped-with the=braking system of the present invention): may be braked simultaneouslywith equal deceleration because the magnetic retardation must be exactly the same on each'armature; if-all the' fields are electricalthepr'esent invention is well adapted for automotive work,- especially ,.if ifour, six or eight wheels must be braked simultaneously with equal force but without looking. For large freight trailers, the invention is epsecially usefuL because controlis had through a couple of wires or other conductors which may be-sheathed in fiexihle cabies' and may extend from the rheostat in the cab of the, motiveunitto the wheels thereof and also to all thewheels'of the trailer.

Swingrlng of the 'trailer'behind the motive unitis of .no consequence when (as in an installation emplaying the invention) there are nomechanical :{parts'bridging'thezone of movement; T However, the invention doubtless will find its greatest field of usefulness in aircraft; particularly because of .the desirability. of retractile landinggear and the mechanical complications that result from an attempt'to control brakesfiwhether mechanical or hydraulic) on such gear. According to the invention, the onlyconnection re,-

quiredbe'tween the source ofv electricity (and its control element, the rheostat) and the brake is a.- conducting path for the electrical current which magnetically excites .the armature as. and for the purpose described. Such, a conducting path need not even be a pair of conventional siderable momentum, like a flywheel, and as it rotates a magnetizable member (the armature) at its own angular velocity, said magnetizable member will generate a powerful E. M. F. counter to the magnetic field of the stationary field member.; In other words, the momentum of the wheel is utilized as a source ofenergy to generate .a magnetic field which actuates an element which operates the wheel braking mechanism.v

The. counter E. M. F. of the armature depends on two variables,.namely, the speed of rotation of the armature and the amount of flux or magnetic stress surrounding and passing through the armature,.and the latter depends on the strength of current flowing from the source of electrical energy 32. Thus the braking effect may be exceedingly powerful or very little, as desired. Furthermore, because of the use of a rheostat, the range of control of the braking action may be much greater than is possible with brakes of known types.

While the wheel shown'is direction, which is all that is necessary in'aircraft, in automotive work it may be desirable to permit braking the wheel when backing the vehicle. Such an arrangement is not shown in the drawing. a

The invention has other uses, applications and advantages as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. For instance, the invention need not be a brake actuator.

Obviously the present invention may be embodied in many forms neither described nor shown. Moreover, it is. not indispensable, that all the, features of the invention be used con- Jointly, since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and sub-com V binations.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a wheel, and a brake for the wheel, ioperator-controlled actuating means for the brake comprising a screw rotated by the wheel, said screw having an external thread; an armature surrounding the screw and rotating therewith and mechanically connected withits thread; a'stationary, magnetizable field surrounding the armature; a source of'electricity; operator-controlled means for magnetizing the field from the source of electricity thereby magnetically retarding-the armature. and causing it to move along the screwgand a mech anism operated by the armature when moved along the screw to apply the brake.

2. The invention according to'claim l, wherein the armature-operated mechanism has a spring which is compressed when the brakeis applied, the spring automatically restoring the armature. to its initial 'position'thus resetting the brake-actuating means. v

3.,Theinvention according to claim 1, wherein a permanent magnet is secured to the wheel and normally holds the armature at one limit of movement of the armature, but yields to the superior force of the magnetized field to permit I i the armature to move toward movement.

4. The invention according to claim 1 where'- in the screw is of small diameter comparedto'the diameter of the wheel and is directly connected at one end to the central part of the wheel; said screw surrounding the wheel axle but being free of contact therewith, being wholly supported by the wheel.

' 5. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the armature-operated mechanism comprises a lever pivoted intermediate its ends; a rod pivotally connected to one end of the lever; the other end of the lever being in the path of movement of the armature; an arm pivotally connected to the rod; a screw having right and left threads; the arm being secured to-the screwto oscillate the. same; and brake-actuating nuts respectively on the right and left threads and connected reits other limit of spectively to the ends of the brake shoes.

braked only in .one

6: The invention according to claim L'Wherein there is a non-magnetic spool surrounding the screw and mechanically'connected to the armature .on the inside thereof; said spool having an integral annular head at one end which is outside the confines of the armature; said head adapted to be thrust against the brake-operating mechanism.

'7. In combination with a wheel and a brake therefor, operator-controlled actuating means for the brake comprising a source of electricity, a rheostat connected to the source of electricity, and a stationary field adapted to be magnetically excited by the source of electricity; an armature surrounded by the field and being connected to the wheel so as to be rotated thereby; means to support the armature so as to permit movement thereof parallel tothe axis of rotation; said field when excited effecting such armature movement because of a magnetic drag or retardation; and means actuated by the armature, when so moved parallel to the axis of rotation, to apply said brake.

8. The combination according .to claim 7, wherein the means to support the armature is a screw rotated synchronously with the wheel, so

that the armature exerts a greatly increased effort upon said brake-applying means, due to the mechanical advantage of the screw; the helix angle of the thread of the screw being such as to insure rapid action on the armature.

9. Theinvention according to claim 7, wherein there are means provided to hold the armature at one'limit of its path of movement parallel to the axis of rotation, said holding means yielding to the superiorforc'e of the aforesaid magnetic retardation; and automatically acting means acts on the armature, after the magnetic retardation ceases, to restore it to the aforesaid limit of its movement; the first named means then acting automatically to securely hold the armature until again overcome by said magnetic retardation.

wherein-thebrake has i flux of the magnetic mechanism. e

the otherend of saidarm;

and the pivotalconnection thearm is secured, to move parallel to and alongthe longitudinal axis of the ,to'move axially responsive to th wheel; braking means 2,274,109' contact with the screw;

rection is possible;'an operator-controlled means for creating a magnetic fieldinwhich said mage netizable member rotates, thereby to create a drag on the rotating magnetizable member to cause; it;

to travel on the screw; interposed in her asit moves longitudinally of the screw.

and brake-applying means J, the path of the magnetizable mem-.

.11. The invention according to claim 7 10, f

the lever being engaged by a head carried on the magnetizable member and being so connected with the brake shoes as toapply the brake when the'lever is swung in-one direction; said spring restoring the lever and. the head: to their initial,-

brake shoes and the brake-e applying. means -compr'ses a lever and a. spring;

inactivepositions when the lever is released by t the head.

12. A] mechanical movement comprising, in combination, a mechanism for doinguseful work having one member which is adapted to be actuated rectilinearly; ber;" means for mechanically connecting the magnetizable'member with the wheel so as to cause'the magnetizable member to rotate with the wheel and also to saidconnecting means spacedfrom the field surrounding erator controlled means to control the magnetic field; and means carried by the magnetizable member to move the :-firstnamed member rectilinearly to operate said being independent of and 13. 'In* combin operator controlled mec anism to swing the lever in one direction to apply saidv brake shoes; 1 a

spring which is'compressed when the'lever is swung to apply said brake'shoes, said spring ing to restore the lever and thereby to their inactive positions when the lever is released; a rod pivotally attached at one'end to the resistance end at rod; a screw whose central portion is secured vto and right hand threads on opposite sides of said be movable rectilinearly; 1

first-named member; a magnetic the magnetizable member; 'o'p-J tion with a wheel having a brake'drum and brake shoes; anioperating lever;

act:- the parts operated of the lever; an arm pivotone end to the other end of said magnetizable means said screw having left a wheel; a magnetizable membetween said spool and cured to the wheel 17. In combination with a wheel, a member set and having an inclined plane I co-axial with the wheel; an axle supporting the wheel; a brake carried by the wheel; a stationary field supported indirectly on the axle; an armature inside of the field; means mechanically connecting the armature with the inclined plane; means to hold the armaturenormally at one end of the inclined plane, said armature then rotatclined plane;

ing with the wheel; operator-controlled means tomag'netically retard the rotating armature and causing the armature to and means-engaged by the armature, aseit so travels, to operate the brake.

18.;The invention according to claim l7,'where inethe means engaged by ate the. brake comprises a lever one end of which is bifurcated and carries apair of rollers on opposaid armature carrying a site sides of the'axle; non-magnetic member providing. a head which surrounds the axle and directly contacts said rollers, said head rotating with the armature and; swinging the lever on its fulcrum when the armature travels as aforesaid. l a

:19. A braking system for wheels comprising in combination, a-conventional' wheel brake; and brake-operating means having magnetizable means and an operator-controlled magnetic field;

central portion; nuts having thread engagement respectively with said left and right hand threads; and means pivotally connecting each nut to the end of a brake shoe. 1 l

14. The invention according to claim 13, wherein the brake shoes are independently movable, between the rod and the screw to which in either direction the arm permits thearm, and

screw when the screw is oscillated by the rod;

saidpivo'tal connection thus permitting the screw reactions from braking pressure on said brake-shoes; e u: 15. The invention according to claim l3,-wher in the spring is a coil spring which surrounds I said rodand abuts a fixed member at oneend, the other end of the spring the effective mitting variation in length of the abutting an adjustable head on said rod; said adjustabl head pergaged with said threadsso as tobe orawayfrom each other simultaneously, there-.

rod thereby compensating 'for wear of the brake 16. In combination with a wheel adapted to rotate on an axle, abrake drum secured to the acting on the drum; a

wheel-attached screw having an external thread surrounding but free of the axle; a non-magnetic spool surrounding and supported by butout of magnet and the otally connected to means to guide and support the magnetizable meansso that it may move rectilinearly relative to the magnetic field; and means tocausathe to rotate with the wheel except when movedrectilinea'rly by magnetic drag.

20. The invention according to claim' 10 wherein the magnetizable member carries a permanent wheel carries another permanent magnet, said magnets being arranged so that opposite poles'may be in contact thereby normally to hold the magnetizable member at one limiteof movement on said screw,

member but automatically engaging each other to hold the magnetizable member when the latter is restored to its aforesaid normal position; and a spring acting on said magnetizable member to restore the same-to said normal position, I

21. In combination with a wheel" having a brake drum anda pair of, brake shoes; a nut pive .one end of each brake; shoe; a screw having right andleft hand threads on its opposite ends; an arm, rigidlyv secured to the central portion of the screw; the nuts being en by respectively to release or apply the brake shoes; when the armis swung; a spring which 15 compressed whentthe brake shoesare applied; said screw being movable along its axis in either 7 direction responsive ,ing pressure on said to the reactions from brakbrake shoes; and operatorcontrolled brake-applying mechanism comprisan armature having said armature surrounding the spool and connected theretoso that theffleld theretravel along said inthe armature to opere p said magnets releasing, the magnetizable mem ber under the superior force of said magnetic drag on the magnetizable moved toward during rotation thereby to effect ing a source of electricity, a rheostat, a field adapted to be variably excited from the source of electricity, an armature movable relative to the field, means connected with the wheel to effect both rotation and straight line movement of the armature, and means interposed betweenthe armature and said arm so that the armature may effect swinging of said arm to apply the brake shoes when the armature is retarded by magnetic retardation and thus is moved in a straight line.

22. The invention according to claim 21 wherein the meansinterposed between the armature and said arm comprises a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and having one end bifurcated and straddling the wheel axle, anti-friction rollers on the bifurcated end, anon-magnetic spool inside the armature and having a head outside the confines of the armature, said head being'adapted to engage theanti-friction rollers when the armature is moved by magnetic retardation thereby to swing said lever, and means connecting the lever on the opposite side of its pivot with said arm.

combination, a member having a helical inclined plane; means secured to said member to rotate the same on its axis; an armature mechanically connected to the inclined plane and adapted to rotate with'and also to move longitudinally of said member; a stationary magnetizable field surrounding the armature; a source of electricity; means connecting the source of electricity with the field; operator-controlled means for varying the magnetic flux of the field thereby varying the lines of force'cut bythe armature when rotating; the armature thereby being magnetically retarded and thus moving longitudinally of said member; a lever which is entirely separate from said means which rotates said member on its axis; a mechanism actuated by the lever to do useful work; means on the armature to engage the lever to operate the same when the armature has been moved longitudinally; and a spring to restore the lever and armature to their initial positions.

24. In combination, a wheel; a brake for the wheel; a member rotated by the wheel about the wheel axis and having a helical inclined plane; means co-axial with said member and engaging 23. A mechanical movement comprising, in-

said inclined plane so as to travel along the wheel I axis; said means engaging'and' rotating synchronously with said member when not traveling along the wheel axis; operator-controlled means to retard said inclined plane-engaging means the aforesaid travel along the wheel axis; a lever connected to the brake to set and release the same; said lever being so located as to be moved by the inclinedplane-engaging means, when movedalong the wheel axis, to set the brake; and means automatically to return said inclined plane-engaging means and said lever to their initial positions so that the brake is released and the parts are ready for another application of the brake.

r 25, In combination with a wheel having braking means, a brake-operating mechanism comprising a normally non-magnetic stationary field; a source of electricity adapted to be connected to the field to magnetize the same; an oporator-controlled switch field with the source of adapted to connect the electricity; an armature surrounded by the field and mechanically connected to the wheel to rotate therewith; mechanical means to cause said armature to travel longitudinally of the axisof the wheel under the influence of magnetic drag or retardation due to the lines of force out by the armature when rotating in the magnetizedfield; and mechanical means for actuating the braking means adapted to be moved when the armature moves longitudinally as aforesaid, thereby translating the longitudinal travel of the armature into brake-setting movement.

26. In combination with a vehicle wheel having a brake, mechanical means for setting the brake and a spring for releasing the brake-set ting means; a member secured to the wheel and. having a helical inclined plane formed thereon,-. the axis of the helix being the axis of the wheel: magnetizable means engaging the helical inclined plane and adapted, when not magnetized, to rotate synchronously with said member and the wheel; and electrical means under the control of an operator to create in said magnetizable means, when magnetized and rotating, 2. counter E. M. F. which retards rotation thereof, thus causing travel thereof along said helical inclined plane; the means for setting the brake being engaged by the magnetizable means whenthe latter has traveled, and the spring acting to restore the magnetizable means to its initial position when the brake-setting means is released.

2'7. In combination with a wheel having a brake, brake setting means comprising a magnetizable member, means connecting the magnetizable member with the wheel so that said member may rotate synchronously with the wheel, operator controlled means to magnetize or'demagnetize said member thereby to magnetically brake said member when rotating with the wheel; the means connecting the magnetizablemember with the wheel affording a considerable mechanical advantage to the wheel and being so constructed and arranged as to move the magnetizable member along the axis of the wheel; and mechanism moved by said magnetizable member when moved along the wheel axis, said mechanism actuating the brake to set the same and being so constructed and arranged as to multiply the aforesaid mechanical advantage, whereby part of the momentum of the wheel is translated into brake-setting effort.

28. The invention according to claim 19, wherein a spring is provided and is so located as to be engaged by part of the brake operating means to store up potential energy from the brakeoperating means when the brake operating means sets the brake; said spring being of sumcient strength to restore the. brake operating means to thenormal or brake-freeing position when the magnetizable member is demagnetized; said brake operating means being engageable with the magnetizable member so that when the brake operating means is restored as aforesaid it moves the magnetizable member back to the latters .initial position, such movement taking place by expenditure of the potential energy of the spring; the parts being so constructed, pro-. portioned and arranged that the entire braking system is reset automatically and immediately after the aforesaid demagnetization.

ROYAL A. VISSING. 

